youth and crime in kenya

Idle, educated youth are more inclined to resort to crime, violence and drugs to make ends meet and to kill time. The government of Kenya has outlawed a total of 114 groups and gangs which are believed to be causing insecurity in the country. Nevertheless, it is up to the international community [with an emphasis on Kenya] to target the wealthy crime bosses who live on the eastern coast of Africa and create legitimate job and educational opportunities for the youth involved. In spite of these efforts, unemployment and under-employment among the youth still remains a big problem [35]. Youth Refers to a collectivity of individuals in the Republic of Kenya who have attained the age of eighteen (18) years but have not attained the age of thirty five (35) years. There's no need to be paranoid and change your travel plans – just heed the advice of your Government. Recreational drug use in Kenya is common among men, women, and youth from both rural and urban environments. The Kenya National Association of Probation Officers (KNAPO) reports that children start using drugs due to peer pressure and curiosity. The Kenya Youth Survey Report1 January 18, 2016 Alex O. Awiti & Bruce Scott “Tell me what are the prevailing sentiments that occupy the minds of your young men, and I will tell you what is to be the character of the next generation”. Sultan Palace homes to be ready by December. Four teenagers suspected of hijacking a taxi, killing its driver were apprehended in Nakuru after being trailed by the flying squad on Tuesday. Some of these kids have run-ins with the law. The African Development Bank reports that 10-12 million youth in Africa enter the workforce each year, compared to approximately 3 million jobs created annually. With the numerous efforts by the government and the private sector being geared towards reducing these rates, it has become paramount for the government to address the causes of crime. Other studies showed that crime by teenagers between the ages of 14-17 years old was in the increase. Crime levels: Level of crime. In Nairobi, a criminal group of youngsters known as the Gaza Gang terrorised residents of Kayole for nearly two years before they were busted by the police in 2015. How can we improve the judicial system in Kenya to act as a legitimate punitive system to curb crime? Many more questions than answers, but what these questions do reveal is the importance of integrated, collaborative efforts in addressing such complex issues. We therefore primarily focus on discouraging at risk and vulnerable youth from engaging in criminal activities and address threats to peace through behavioral and attitudinal change while promoting the benefits of a crime-free society. Kenya Demographic and Health Survey 2014. The Government of Kenya Interpol US Government United Nations Safaricom Swedish Government. In Kenya, there are children who consume and traffic drugs, are victims of drug-abusing families and live in drug-infested communities. Latest Government of Kenya reports indicate that nine out of ten unemployed people are below the age of 35, with the largest unemployed group being between the age of 20-24¹. Peer pressure, like in the case of the 100 youths arrested in Langata, Nairobi could lead to crime. Drug abuse in secondary schools in Kenya probably led to the recent wave of arson that has left a trail of destruction, injury and death in high schools. Read all recent NEWS ON CRIMES IN KENYA Find the latest updates about robberies, criminal cases, kidnappings and more. Youth in Conflict with the Law Denotes youth who get into contact with the criminal justice In Mombasa, for instance, it is easy for terrorists to recruit disillusioned youth who, for lack of nothing better to do, have also taken to drugs. By How can we incentivize young people to stay in their rural homes rather than migrating to urban centres where jobs just do not exist? "Snatch and run" crimes are becoming more common on city streets. There is a fast … Many youths in Kenya still remain unemployed and vulnerable to crime and social unrest In view … The youth-led Safety and Market Survey in 2018, facilitated by SDI Kenya, found that youths used lack of jobs as the excuse and reason for participating in crime and violence. ¹  https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/analysis/ideas/Jobless-Kenyan-youth-sinking-deeper-into-misery/4259414-5029116-hky0w0/index.html, unemployed youth flocking an upmarket hotel, https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/analysis/ideas/Jobless-Kenyan-youth-sinking-deeper-into-misery/4259414-5029116-hky0w0/index.html, Wasafiri honoured as ‘Best for the World 2019’ Business, Equality will help agricultural transformation in Africa, The Power of Microsystems for Transforming Macrosystems, Wasafiri Joins Over One Thousand Leaders Across the United States Affirming Commitment to Global Climate Action on the Fifth Anniversary of the Paris Agreement, Thought Paper – Soil as a Climate Solution, New approaches to locally led community security and development. There is a high rate of crime in all regions of Kenya, particularly in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, and coastal beach resorts. Of even greater concern, however, is the growing number of youth who are taking to crime, especially in major cities and towns. Israel. Developing nations in Africa particularly are characterised by growth of slums to meet the challenges of housing. Year that Ruto’s allies found themselves on the back foot, Mother: How my six-month-old baby survived Covid 19, I swapped my engineering path for tailoring, How Christianity has reduced fear of death among the Meru. (Ischebeck-Baum, personal statement, 2010). ( 3 ) Percentage of women aged 20 to 24 years who were first married or in union before age 18. As the premier anti-crime advocacy and lobby group in Kenya, our aim is to mobilize communities to build ownership around safety, justice and socio-economic issues. Crime rates in Kenya have been having an upward trend since Kenya attained independence. Drugs and alcohol have their influence on the youth. At Y.C.T.C, the study revealed that over 70%; more than 40 out of 55 of the inmates were Media reports indicate that these killings mostly target youth aged between 15 and 24. However, crime is a stubborn enemy and it does not give those who fight it an easy time. There is need for parental guidance and the Government to come up with programmes that could lure the youth away from crime and give them hope for a bright future. Six seminar series per year which shall run as one full-day session every two months. Civilians often describe being a youth as almost a crime, whereby experiences of arrests, police aggravation, and killings are common for age groups between 20 and 29 years old. He believed his only crime to have been assisting a human rights organization in documenting extrajudicial killings by security agencies in Eastleigh. Recently, human rights activists have featured on some of Hessy’s Facebook posts. Kenya has hit international headlines in the last 5 years for all the wrong reasons, terrorism. Explainer: Can anything stop Trump from pardoning his family... An Australian vaccine trial did not give trial participants HIV, Ndugu wawili wadaiwa kumuua kaka yao baada ya mzozo wa hela, Cyber Crime In Kenya:Global Malware currently on the rise as economy loses Billions to digital vice, Msichana mmoja akamatwa Uasin Gishu baada ya kupatikana akiishi na maiti chumbani, Woman arrested after roommate found dead in rented apartment, Man stones police vehicle before hiding in church, DCI: Be wary of criminals posing as delivery persons during Christmas, TSC recalls officers on leave ahead of opening. However, the most common crime in Kenya is carjacking so the criminal can commit an armed robbery. Therefore, the challenges that face the youth … Compounding this urban migration problem, investment in agriculture remains low, despite the government’s acknowledgement of its role in the country’s development. Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated on the latest developments and special offers! On 1st July 2019, Kenyans woke up to trending news on social media of hundreds about unemployed youth flocking an upmarket hotel that had an opening for only five positions. Crime is common in major cities, coastal beach resorts, northern Kenya (including the North Eastern province), the northern parts of Eastern, Coastal and Rift Valley provinces and north of Malindi. March 17th 2016 at 00:00:00 GMT +0300. Rural-urban migration among the youth has continuously been high, with cities and towns remaining unprepared for the large influx of migrants. How can we better engage young people and the police to break down misperceptions of idle youth? Asked to state causes of crime in slum areas in urban centres, 61.2% of the respondents cited youth unemployment as the main cause of crime. Other criminal gangs in the Majengo area were linked to drugs. Source: UNICEF SDG Target 5.3.1 global database 2018, based on Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) and other nationally representative surveys. In December last year, police in Kisauni, Mombasa arrested 50 youths aged between 12 and 17 years who were members of a notorious criminal gang known as … This is not the first time that large numbers of unemployed people, mostly youth, have shown up in masses seeking few advertised employment opportunities. The one question they consistently pose is, “If he (the police officer) was able to apprehend the young men he claimed were criminals, why would he not take them through the justice system? However, not all unemployed youth engage in crime, nor do all unemployed young people experience harassment by security agencies. Whilst this is happening, more young people are entering the constricted job market and migrating into urban areas in search of these elusive jobs. Perceptions among Kenyan (mostly urban) youth suggests that unemployment heightens chances of security agencies’ suspicion of such young people’s involvement in crime, therefore increasing their likelihood of experiencing harassment or arrest by security agencies. Among youth in low income neighborhoods and slums of Nairobi, their perceptions remain that they are one action away from being profiled by Hessy, and their unemployment is first to be blamed upon. Recently, while on field research in North-Eastern Kenya, I met a young man who claimed to have relocated back from Eastleigh, Nairobi after receiving threats from a dreaded police officer who said he would face unspecified consequences if he did not move back to his rural home. If this supposed link between unemployment and targeted police harassment exists, then what can be done to break the cycle? In … These seminars will include the following topics which have been identified by the organizers in collaboration with other experts from civil society and government. has knowledge of the crime either before or after its occurrence. While many young people migrate to Nairobi in search of employment, cases of extrajudicial killings are reported in low-income neighbourhoods and slums of the city that are home to thousands of young people establishing their lives after years of schooling, and where others have called home for most of their lives. Kenya South Africa; Improve Data : Improve Data : Level of crime: High 69.28: Very High 84.71: Crime increasing in the past 3 years: Moderate 58.08: Very High 83.19: Worries home broken and things stolen: Moderate 59.22: High 77.81: Worries being mugged or robbed: High 67.33: High 78.98: The militants have resorted to luring desperate youth into crime with the promise of a better life. The last question struck! 6. British Government Therefore, instead of sitting down comfortably on our chairs at home watching the few who have dedicated their lives to fight against crime do this job for us, why don’t we all stand up and fight crime in Kenya as a country and as one people. Recently, youth deviant behaviour has become a global issue of great concern and requires immediate attention. By using our site, you agree to use our cookies. In December last year, police in Kisauni, Mombasa arrested 50 youths aged between 12 and 17 years who were members of a notorious criminal gang known as Wakali Kwanza whose machete-wielding members carried out daylight robberies. For most young people born and bred in the rural villages of Kenya, completing Kenya’s 8-4-4 education system (Kenyans will often joke that 8 minus 4 minus 4 equals zero, so the 8-4-4 education system basically leaves you with nothing to show of it) sets them ready for formal employment in one of the urban centres in the country, mostly Nairobi, where they are only to encounter declining employment rates. Youth Employment in Kenya Samuel Hall Executive Summary With its youth population of nearly 10 million, more than 20 per cent of its overall population, Kenya is currently experiencing a so-called youth bulge (defined as a situation when at least 20 per cent of a … Crime rate comparison Kenya vs South Africa. Crime in Kenya. All the papers and reports reviewed attribute high and rising levels of criminality in the country to high levels of youth unemployment. He or she may assist through advice, actions, or monetary support. As things stand, the prevalence of drug abuse among Kenyan youth is so high that some affected parents have switched on to denial mode as others simply look on hoping for a miracle. The latest reported incident involves a gang on the loose on Nakuru police's most wanted list. Alcohol, cigarettes, khat (miraa), and cannabis sativa have remained the most popular abused substances in the country. WWF Kenya is in the process of sourcing for proposals for a consultancy on The Role of youth and women in addressing wildlife crime and therefore invites proposals from interested firms/individuals to submit their proposals. youth unemployment and prescribed policies to deal with it. Youth Crime Implies criminal behavior(s) or act(s) by the youth. Indeed, since when did being an unemployed youth become a crime in Nairobi? Arbitrary arrests targeting Kenya’s Muslim minority population and the history of violence toward youth add another layer of complexity to the issue. Based on 0-50 contributions for Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria and 82 more countries and 50-100 contributions for Argentina, Belgium, Bulgaria and 24 more countries and over 100 contributions for Australia, Brazil, Canada and 17 more countries. Keywords: Youth crime, juvenile delinquency, Kenya POVERTY AND CRIME AMONG THE YOUTH Various observations indicate that most of the youth are in crime because of poverty, which drove them into criminal acts for survival (Prior & Paris, 2005). Increased incidences of crime across the country are becoming a matter of grave concern. Young people’s perspectives on these issues vary, but their experiences and perceptions are important to consider. The government is also trying to portray an image of the manufacturing sector slowly coming back to life, despite recent media reports of downsizing or total closure of some factories. It started way back in 2010 when former Internal Security PS Francis Kimemia gazetted 33 groups under the Organized Crimes Act. There are several likely causes of the increase in youth's involvement in criminal activities that not only the Government, but society must address. Suffering under a slow-growing economy, youth, whether well educated or uneducated, have increasingly turned to crime and violence, serving as watu wa mkono (handymen) to the ruling elite and intimidating and harassing their political opponents. In addition, more youth have been conned on the pretext that they will be employed once they pay “job application fees” or bribes. In most cases, the threats are followed by images of bodies of people who had previously been threatened, usually days, weeks or a few months later. Since when did being an unemployed youth in Nairobi become a crime?”. To personalise content, tailor ads and provide best user experience, we use cookies. Poverty (11.3%) and illicit brews/drug abuse (9.5%) were cited as the other causes of crime in slum areas. The crime situation in Kenya is not unique within itself -- many of the problems that face Kenya on a criminological and developmental level are, for the most part, identical to those facing the surrounding countries in East Africa. Speaking to young people during previous research activities in Eastleigh and Majengo areas of Nairobi, they spoke about friends they believe had been killed by security agents on suspicion of being criminals. Will IEBC clear Waititu for city governor’s job. There are regular reports of attacks against tourists by groups of armed assailants. Violence and crime among the youth in Kenya begin in primary schools where same-class or older pupils not only forcibly steal material belongings but also intellectual property in the form of homework completed by other pupils. A person who is aware of a crime before it occurs, and who gives some form of aid to those committing the crime, is known in legal terms as an "accessory before the fact." Is there a link between youth, unemployment, rural to urban migration and extrajudicial killings? Why was the police officer taking the position of the detainer, prosecutor and judge? As part of a crime survey conducted in Nairobi from April to July 2001, which indicated that youth delinquency is considered as a problem by the residents of Nairobi, a youth offender profile was carried out. There are five main activities proposed towards the development of the discourse on crime and violence prevention and safety in Kenya: 1. youth involvement in crime: for example, in 2008, 92.5 percent of convicted prisoners were aged 16–35 years. This leaves a large number of youth unemployed. No doubt, poverty levels occasioned by high unemployment rates despite more youth having access to education, precipitate crime. Crime and Drugs The early mid 1980’s saw a rapid growth in crime, drug and substance abuse among the youth in Kenya. The Standard | In Nairobi, youth are talking about corruption, crime prevention and good governance Preparing today's youth to become tomorrow's leaders rests in large part on giving them solid educational pillars, including not only the necessary range of formal academics but also strong ethical foundations and essential life skills. From Westgate attack in 2013 to the bloody Garissa University attack in 2015, Al Shabaab remains to a security threat to Kenya. Youth, Unemployment and Extrajudicial killings in Kenya. Of the four suspects, two were secondary school students. The sad story is repeated in almost all towns. There is a section rumoured to be of the police going by the name Hessy whose existence is continually denied by security agencies; it’s active on social media, using Facebook groups like Nairobi Crime Free (Crime Free Society) among others to post photos of young people (mostly men) suspected to be involved in crimes and warning them to relocate back to their rural homes or face death. Perceptions among Kenyan (mostly urban) youth suggests that unemployment heightens chances of security agencies’ suspicion of such young people’s involvement in crime, therefore increasing their likelihood of experiencing harassment or arrest by security agencies. 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